From the Airport to Echigo-Yuzawa: The fastest route is in Niigata! 🏔️

Want to enter the "Snow Country" Echigo-Yuzawa as quickly as possible? In fact, the answer is simple: fly to Niigata Airport! Yuzawa is located at the southernmost tip of Niigata Prefecture. Entering from Niigata Airport is not only the shortest distance, but also the transportation cost is relatively cheap, making it the fastest and most economical option.

Of course, most travelers are still accustomed to entering and exiting from Tokyo and using Haneda or Narita Airport to transfer to the Shinkansen to Yuzawa. After all, there are more flight options. However, if you want to save time and money, Niigata Airport is definitely worth a try! Next, we will compare the transportation methods of these three major airports in detail to help you find the most suitable route and smoothly enter the world of Snow Country! ⛷️

1. Niigata Airport: The best choice for quick and direct access to Snow Country✈️

"Quickness" is the biggest selling point of Niigata Airport!
As a small airport, immigration procedures are extremely fast and baggage claim is efficient. From landing to exiting customs, the whole process only takes about 20 minutes, which is perfect for efficiency.

Transportation:

• Bus : After exiting customs, take the bus directly to Niigata Station. The journey takes about 20-30 minutes and leaves every 10-25 minutes. The fare is only 470 yen (payable with Suica).
• Shinkansen : Take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Niigata Station, which takes about 40 minutes and costs 4,950 yen.

Total time and cost:

• Time : Approximately 115 minutes (just under 2 hours).
• Cost : 5,420 yen.

Who is it suitable for?
Travelers who pursue time efficiency and affordability should note that Niigata Airport has fewer flights and must plan their itinerary in advance.

2. Haneda Airport: the transportation hub of the metropolis🛬

As the main international airport in Tokyo, Haneda Airport has many flights and a high degree of internationalization. However, due to its large size, entry and baggage pickup usually take about an hour or more .

Fastest route:

• Keikyu Electric Railway or Tokyo Monorail : Take the train from Haneda Airport to Shinagawa Station or Hamamatsucho Station, then transfer to the JR Line to Tokyo Station. The journey takes about 30 minutes and the fare is about 500-600 yen.
  • Please note : You need to transfer once midway, which may be slightly inconvenient if you have a lot of luggage.

Taking the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station:

• The journey takes about 74 minutes and the fare is 6,260 yen (non-reserved seats).

Total time and cost:

• Time : Approximately 60 minutes for immigration + approximately 104 minutes for transportation = 164 minutes (2 hours and 45 minutes).
• Cost : Approximately 6,860 yen.

Who is it suitable for?
Travelers who require flight variety and enjoy the convenience of metropolitan transportation.

3. Narita Airport: The King of Choice for International Passengers🛫

Narita Airport is slightly far away from downtown Tokyo and is the main entrance and exit for many international flights. However, immigration and baggage pickup are also time-consuming, usually taking about 1 hour .

Fastest route:

• Keisei Electric Railway Skyliner : 41 minutes to Ueno Station, fare 2,570 yen.
  • Please note : Keisei Ueno Station where Skyliner arrives is not in the same station as JR Ueno Station. You need to walk out of the station for about 5-10 minutes to JR Ueno Station and take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa.

From Ueno Station by Shinkansen:

• The journey takes about 74 minutes and the fare is 6,050 yen (non-reserved seats).

Total time and cost:

• Time : About 60 minutes for immigration + about 115 minutes for transportation = about 185 minutes (about 3 hours and 5 minutes).
• Cost : 8,620 yen.

Who is it suitable for?
International travelers and those who need more flight options need to consider the longer transportation time and the inconvenience of walking to transfer.

Tips: Flexible entry and exit, enjoy the snow country and the city!

Don't want to just choose a single airport? So try different entry and exit points !

• Entering Niigata and departing from Tokyo : First, immerse yourself in the pure white world of Snow Country, then enjoy the prosperity and convenience of the city in Tokyo, and then return home from Tokyo.
• Inbound from Tokyo and out from Niigata : Start in Tokyo to explore the charm of the city, then go to Echigo-Yuzawa for skiing, and finally return home from Niigata Airport.

This kind of itinerary design makes your journey more colorful! Not only can you ski, but you can also deeply experience the beauty of Japan’s cities and countryside, the best of both worlds! ⛷️✨